“I would like to congratulate all of our Christian citizens, particularly Christian media persons, on the auspicious occasion of the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ, the prophet of kindness and compassion,” Ghasemi said in his statement on Sunday.

He went on to add, “Iran’s Christian community has lived together peacefully with fellow Muslim citizens and followers of other divine religions for centuries by pursuing the teachings of Prophet Jesus. All the Iranians take great pride in this honorable coexistence full of respect and grandeur.”

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a tweet on Sunday congratulated Christmas and the new Christian year, saying “Wishing a very Happy Christmas and peaceful 2017 to all. May the miracle birth of Jesus Christ bring peace to our troubled world.”